A California Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk assigned to A Co, 2-238th AVN over the Goldwater Range en route to NATO Hill. Photo: Ned Harris

An HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 101st RQS flies at low-level on the Barry M. Goldwater Range. The 101st is a subordinate unit of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing, which sent a sizeable contingent of personnel to DMAFB for Angel Thunder 2013. Photo: Ned Harris

Door gunners from the New York Air National Guard’s 101st Rescue Squadron engage simulated urban targets with their .50 caliber machine guns on the Barry M. Goldwater Range during a RESCUE RODEO sortie early on in Angel Thunder 2013. Photo: Ned Harris

Commandos approach the driver of an unknown vehicle during an Irregular Warfare evolution as part of Operation AUDACITY. Photo: Ned Harris

Commandos from the Chilean Air Force’s Unidad Táctica de Fuerzas Especiales, or Tactical Special Forces Unit, stand guard during an operation in Playas, New Mexico. Photo: Dave Shields

An HH-60G Pave Hawk prepares to refuel from an HC-130J Combat King II. The 79th Rescue Squadron provided four of the new HC-130Js for Angel Thunder 2013. Photo: Ned Harris

Ten A-10 Warthogs were provided for the exercise by the Michigan Air National Guard’s 107th Fighter Squadron “Red Devils.” The A-10s operated in the “SANDY” search and rescue role during the exercise. Photo: Joe Copalman

Personnel from the National Park Service Fire Department use the “Jaws of life” to extricate a simulated casualty. Photo: Ned Harris

PJs work together to pull a “wounded” role-player out of the Grand Canyon. Photo: Ned Harris

A C-130H from the Fuerza Aerea Colombiana at the Grand Canyon Airport. Photo: Ned Harris

Overview of the Afghan market at the Playas Training and Research Center. Photo: Joe Copalman

During the scenario, three servicemembers played the role of civilian/diplomatic security personnel who provided security at each incident site while waiting for allied troops to arrive. Photo: Joe Copalman

A simulated IED explodes near a bus in one of four coordinated, simultaneous attacks within a quarter-mile area at the Playas Training and Research Center. Photo: Dave Shields

Marines 2nd Force Recon disembark from an Army CH-47D Chinook. The Recon Marines secured the landing zones to ensure that helicopters bringing additional troops in and to evacuate the wounded could do so safely. Photo: Joe Copalman

A CH-47D Chinook from B Co, 7-158th AVN moments from touching down on a dusty soccer pitch that served as the primary LZ during the exercise. The Chinook carried Force Recon Marines to secure the landing zones and surrounding structures. Photo: Joe Copalman

A Blackhawk from A Co, 2-238th AVN emerges from its own brownout on departure from the Playas Training Center after unloading a squad of Marines from 2nd Force Recon. Photo: Joe Copalman

RSAF Chinook about descending into its own brownout upon landing on the soccer field at Playas. Photo: Joe Copalman

Chilean Air Force Commandos secure the LZ after disembarking from a Singapore Air Force CH-47SD Chinook. Photo: Joe Copalman

A Marine Force Recon adviser points out a rally point to a mixed force of Brazilian and Colombian Air Force Commandos after disembarking from a Republic of Singapore Air Force CH-47SD Chinook. Photo: Joe Copalman

Brazilian commandos arrive at a rally point near the LZ to coordinate with Force Recon Marines and Colombian and Chilean Air Force Commandos on moving toward the four incident sites at Playas. Photo: Joe Copalman

FACh Commandos take the lead in clearing the way from the rally point to the Afghan Market. Photo: Joe Copalman

“¡MEDICO! ¡MEDICO!” FACh commandos search the Afghan market for threats, instead finding large numbers of American military casualties sheltered in the various storefronts and calling for medics to treat the wounded. Photo: Joe Copalman

An F Co, 1-214th AVN HH-60M emerges from its own brownout upon landing. Photo: Joe Copalman

CAT ALPHA. A critically-wounded American is loaded onto an HH-60M for transport to a hospital for surgery. Photo: Joe Copalman

Colombian and Brazilian commandos litter-carry a casualty to a nearby truck for transport to the Casualty Collection Point. Photo: Dave Shields

The Walking Wounded – Force Recon Marines and several of the role players with minor injuries prepare to depart Playas aboard a CH-47D belonging to the “Spartans” of the Army Reserve’s B Co, 7-158th AVN. Photo: Dave Shields

The RAF had a presence at Angel Thunder 2013 as well, which a SERE instructor observing the Playas IW evolution. Photo: Joe Copalman

Role players in the Afghan Market at the PTRC watch as a UH-60 brings in a contingent of high-ranking observers from several foreign militaries. Photo: Joe Copalman

A UH-60 Blackhawk from the Army Reserve’s A co, 2-238th AVN arrives at Playas with a squad of Force Recon Marines. Photo: Joe Copalman

Chinook on the ground at Playas. Photo: Joe Copalman

A CH-47D belonging to the “Spartans” of the Army Reserve’s B Co, 7-158th AVN departs the Playas Training Center after unloading Marines from 2nd Force Recon. Photo: Joe Copalman

Coalition of the willing. Commandos from the Chilean Air Force rush from a Singapore Air Force CH-47SD Chinook helicopter. At far left is an American special operator attached to the commandos. Photo: Joe Copalman

Seven Brazilian commandos run to a rally point as a Singaporean CH-47 Chinook prepares to depart in the background. The Brazilian SOF contingent comprised operators from several different units, including Air Force commandos, Comandos Anfibios, and the 11th Infantry (Mountain) Battalion. Photo: Joe Copalman

A Colombian Air Force commando scans for threats with his M4 Carbine as his squad approaches the Afghan Market, which was the IED blast site with the most casualties. Photo: Joe Copalman

Going Commando. Commandos representing several Brazilian special operations units pause while Chilean Air Force Commandos enter the Afghan Market and clear it of any threats. Photo: Joe Copalman

A Force Recon Marine scans high for threats at the Afghan Market while Chilean Air Force commandos search the market for insurgents. Photo: Joe Copalman

Safety First. Military-age males in the Afghan Market are secured while Chilean Air Force commandos sort out the situation on the ground. These men were shortly identified by wounded Americans as locals who offered aid to them following the blast and were released. Photo: Joe Copalman

Brazilian (R) and Colombian (L) special operators secure a street corner across from the Afghan Market. Photo: Joe Copalman

Chilean Air Force commandos continue to search the Market for any signs of insurgents. Photo: Joe Copalman

Brazilian and Colombian commandos transport a casualty to a truck for movement to the CCP. Photo: Joe Copalman

A UTAFE commando stands guard across from the Afghan market as Colombian pararescue personnel treat the wounded. Photo: Joe Copalman

The first of two HH-60Ms from F Company, 1-214th Aviation Battalion flaring for landing at the Playas Training and Research Center. Photo: Joe Copalman

DUSTOFF! HH-60M whipping up a brown-out upon landing at Playas. Photo: Joe Copalman

One of two brand-new HH-60Ms from F Co, 1-214th AVN that participated in Angel Thunder 2013. The HH-60M is an H-60 variant of the Black Hawk built specifically for medevac/"dustoff" operations. Photo: Joe Copalman

A CH-47D belonging to the “Spartans” of the Army Reserve’s B Co, 7-158th AVN departs the soccer field at Playas, hauling a load of commandos and "wounded" role players back to Davis-Monthan AFB.

An HH-60G Pave Hawk from the New York Air National Guard departs NATO Hill after clearing a jammed gun. Photo: Ned Harris

The crew chief from an HH-60G Pave Hawk from the New York Air National Guard's 101st Rescue Squadron performs maintenance on a jammed GAU-21 .50-caliber machine gun at NATO Hill on the Barry M. Goldwater Range during a RESCUE RODEO sortie. Photo: Ned Harris

Brazilian commando at the Grand Canyon as an observer. Photo: Ned Harris

Observers and their SERE escorts atop an observation tower at the Playas Training and Research Center. Photo: Dave Shields